The Climbing Wall at the WVU Student Recreation Center is the only climbing wall in Morgantown, WV. It is a 50-foot wall featuring more than 2,000 interchanges, containing over 3,500 square feet of climbing surface.
The Climbing Wall offers many different programs throughout the year, including bouldering, top-rope climbing, belay classes, introduction and intermediate aerial acrobatics classes, and special events and competitions.
Who Can Climb at the Climbing Wall?
WVU students and patrons of the Student Rec Center are able to climb at the climbing wall. Bouldering is available whenever the WVU Student Rec Center is open, and Top Rope climbing is available Monday through Friday from 4 PM to 9 PM. All the equipment you need is free to rent at the wall, including climbing shoes, harnesses, chalk bags and helmets! However, if you have your own equipment you want to use, you can once it has been checked by a staff member.
Belay classes at the WVU climbing wall will provide attendees the opportunity to learn how to belay and become certified in belaying. This way, you and your friends could climb together and belay each other if you’re belay certified!
Class dates range from now until Wednesday, April 30, 2025. All classes take place at the WVU Student Rec Center Climbing Wall and last from 6:30 PM to 8 PM.
Aerial Acrobatics
Introduction to Aerial Silks and Aerial Hammocking classes have started up for the semester! There will be an Intro to Aerial Silks or Aerial Hammocking class every week, alternating between classes each week.
Special Events
Paradox Mile
For the month of February, Adventure WV has partnered with Paradox Sports for participation in the Paradox Mile. The Paradox Mile is a fundraising event that encourages participants to climb a vertical mile (5,280 feet) while raising donations for adaptive climbing.
Bryce Tuggle, Adventure WV Graduate Assistant for Guided Trips and the Climbing Wall participated in the Paradox Mile at his previous climbing gym. As an advocate for adaptive sports and this being a personal passion of his, Tuggle is excited about Adventure WV participating in the Paradox Mile for the first time this year.
“I think it’s a great way to get awareness out there for people with disabilities and let them know that, “Just because you may be missing a leg or may not have the ability of your legs or arms, that doesn’t mean you can’t climb.”” Tuggle explains, “I think people feel like it is very restrictive–it’s not that it becomes restrictive, it’s just that we have to change how it goes.”
To participate you can either stop by the climbing wall to scan the QR code that will take you to Adventure WV’s webpage on the Paradox Mile’s website, or you can visit the link below. You can also donate to a participant’s accounts on the same page.
To keep track of your vertical climbing progress, there are scorecards at the climbing wall desk to check out, sign on and return back to the desk. For those who complete the vertical mile and fundraise certain amount markers, there are prizes that will be awarded.
Women’s Climb Night
Another new event at the climbing wall is Women’s Climb Night! Once a month on a Friday night, come climb with fellow females! These Women’s Climb Nights will take place on February 28, 2025, April 4, 2025 and April 25, 2025.
There isn’t a registration for these events, this is just an opportunity for female climbers to climb with a heavier presence of other women! Come out and have a great time together!
Climbing Competitions
Doughnut Climbing Competition
The Doughnut Climbing Competition will be a community competition that is fun, silly and meant to get the community together! It will take place on Friday, March 7, 2025 from 4 PM to 9 PM.
This will be a boulder-style competition where participants will climb bouldering routes while wearing an inflatable pool doughnut! Climbers will complete routes for points, and prizes will be given to top finishers. For a sweet treat, we will also have doughnuts from a local bakery.
Whether you’re a seasoned climber or attend just for the doughnuts, everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend! Registration is only $5!
WVU Top Rope Climbing Competition
The WVU Top Rope Climbing Competition will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2025 from 10 AM to 3 PM. This competition will feature a beginner/novice climbing bracket, and an advanced climbing bracket with prizes being awarded to the top three finishers of each bracket! Raffle prizes will also be given throughout the event.
Climbers will need to register in advance for this competition, either in advance online for $15, or on the same day for $20.
No matter your skill level, this competition is for you!
Come Climb!
Come establish and build community at our climbing wall, challenge yourself and try something new!
If you ever have any questions, stop by the climbing wall and talk to our staff! And if you need someone to belay you, our staff can belay for you!
Tuggle encourages, “Come to the wall! Come check it out and see it for yourself.”